1Meanwhile a certain young man of Argilus, whom Pausanias had loved with a sexual love when he was a boy, having received a letter from him for Artabazus, came to suspect that something about himself was written in it, because none of those who had been sent to the same place had returned; so he loosened the cord of the letter and, removing the seal, learned that if he delivered it he would have to die. 2In the same letter were matters relating to what had been agreed between the king and Pausanias. 2He handed this letter over to the ephors. 3The deliberateness of the Spartans must not be passed over at this point.
3For not even by this man's information were they induced to arrest Pausanias, nor did they think force should be used until he had betrayed himself. 4So they instructed this informer what they wanted done. 4There is a shrine of Neptune at Taenarum, which the Greeks consider it sacrilege to violate. 4There the informer took refuge and sat down on the altar. 4Next to it they made a place under the ground from which it could be overheard if anyone said anything to the Argilian. 5Some of the ephors went down into it. 5Pausanias, when he heard that the Argilian had taken refuge at the altar, came there in agitation.
5When he saw him sitting on the altar as a suppliant of the god, he asks what the reason is for so sudden a decision. 5The young man discloses to him what he had found out from the letter. 6At this Pausanias, all the more agitated, began to beg him not to reveal it nor to betray one who had deserved so well of him: if he granted him this favour and relieved him when he was entangled in such great affairs, it would bring him a great reward.